Laurie,

I handle it by quoting Nutrition During Lactation, by the Institute of
Medicine, 1991, p. 104.

"If alcohol is used, advise the lactating woman to limit her intake to no
more than 0.5g of alcohol per kg of maternal body weight per day.  Intake
over this level may impair the milk ejection reflex.  For a 60-kg (132-lb)
woman, 0.5 g of alcohol per kg of body weight corresponds approximately to 2
to 2.5 oz of liquor, 8 oz of table wine, or 2 cans of beer."

For us Americans who do not do metric, according to their formula, with
80proof alcohol, multiply mom's weight by .02 and that will tell you how
many ounces of 80 proof liquor are ok.  For 100 proof multiply mom's weight
by .0162.  (Other important equivalents:  1 oz 100 proof liquor = 4 oz table
wine = 12 oz beer.)

All the Best,


Linda Pohl, IBCLC
Phoenix, Arizona USA
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